Lake Shelbyville
A central Illinois reservoir known for muskie, crappie, walleye and white bass.
Species
Fishery rating out of 5.
Muskellunge
Big baits along weed edges and rock bars, best in fall.
Crappie
Brush piles, docks and standing timber. Minnows or small jigs.
Walleye
Points, flats and reefs at low light. Jigs and live bait early, crankbaits and crawler harnesses in summer.
White Bass
Schools chasing shad in open water, and spring river runs.
Largemouth Bass
Weeds, docks and wood in the shallows.
Boat launches
5 launch sites. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go.
- Opossum Creek Boat RampPublicUSACE ramp, Opossum Creek Recreation Area, west shore; courtesy dock, fish cleaning stationDirections ↗
- Lithia Springs Boat RampPublicUSACE ramp, Lithia Springs Recreation Area, east shore; courtesy dock, fish cleaning stationDirections ↗
- Whitley Creek Boat RampPublicUSACE two-lane ramp, northeast shore; courtesy dock, fish cleaning stationDirections ↗
- Forrest W. Bo Wood Boat RampPublicUSACE two-lane ramp, Forrest W. Bo Wood Recreation Area; courtesy dock, fish cleaning stationDirections ↗
- More public accessPublicSee the IDNR or lake website for all ramps and feesDirections ↗
Size & creel limits
Special rules for this lake, confirmed from official state regulations. Minimum size and daily limit.
| Species | Min size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 14 in | 6 / day combined |
| Smallmouth Bass | 14 in | 6 / day combined |
| Muskellunge | 48 in | 1 / day |
| Striped Bass | 32 in | 2 / day |
| Walleye Includes sauger/walleye hybrid | 14 in | 6 / day |
| Crappie No more than 10 may be 10 in or longer | See Illinois rules book ↗ | 15 / day |
Other species in this lake: look up the limits at Illinois Department of Natural Resources ↗
Bait & tackle nearby
Closest shops to the lake and its boat launches. Call ahead for live bait and hours.
- Spillway Motel & Bait ShopNearby1295 N Highway 16 East, Shelbyville(217) 774-9591Directions ↗
- Craig's Sporting Goods & Family Fun CenterNearby105 E Main St, Shelbyville(217) 296-2130Directions ↗
Local tips
- It's one of Illinois' top muskie lakes.
- Crappie stack on brush piles in spring.
- Two state parks, Eagle Creek and Wolf Creek, have launches.
View on interactive map
Zoom and pan on a street, satellite or terrain map. Red pins are boat launches; blue pins are bait shops nearby.
More Illinois lakes
Fox Chain O'Lakes Crab Orchard Lake Clinton Lake Lake Springfield Lake Decatur Kinkaid Lake Horseshoe Lake (Madison County) Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County) All Illinois lakes →
Always wear a life jacket and check your state's current regulations before you fish.